A Strong Hand

then.
    And now I think perhaps you'd better get back to calling me sir."
    "Yes, sir," Nick said, feeling immensely relieved.
    "That's my good pet."

    * * * *
    After Damian parked the car, Nick realized he was facing the walk into the club. Wearing a collar and leash. A very obvious leash. The silver links glittered under the streetlights like diamonds.
    "Uncomfortable, pet?"
    Nick nodded slowly, not turning to look at Damian, but the older man cupped his chin and turned him so their eyes met.
    "The collar is my protection in there, pet. Do you understand?"
    Nick's eyes dropped, and he said nothing.
    Damian sighed. "I'm not doing this to upset you. You are a very beautiful boy, Nick, and a submissive. If I let you walk in there alone, with no sign that you have an owner, you might 292

    A Strong Hand
    by Catt Ford
    not like what would happen next. You wouldn't be hurt, but you might have to fend off a number of offers from some persistent admirers. I'm not going to put you in that position, understand? This way the other Tops will know that you already belong to me, and you'll be safe."
    "Yes, sir," Nick said quietly.
    Damian was frustrated; the connection they had while fucking seemed to disappear when Nick became speechless and uncomfortable.
    "Talk to me, baby."
    The endearment seemed to signal a break of scene for Nick and he was more able to speak. "Can't we just go home?"
    "We won't stay long, babe, but Crispin invited us and Ashley will be there with Derek. I said I would bring you along. I'd like us to go in and say hello. Can you do that much for me?"
    "Yes, sir," Nick said dejectedly.
    "Good boy. Come on then." Damian got out, resigning himself to leading a sullen pet into the club, but knowing that no matter what his attitude, Nick would attract a lot of attention and he would be the envy of many of the Doms. Not that he was desirous of raising envy from others. He was far more concerned with Nick's discomfort.
    He led the boy down the sidewalk briskly, not wanting to subject him to the stares of the curious when passersby caught a glimpse of the leash.
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    He opened the door and the burly security guard recognized him, allowing them to pass with a respectful,
    "Good evening, Mr. Wolfe. It's good to see you again."
    Damian nodded back and paused to allow Nick to look around the club. The kinkier scenes took place in private rooms in the back, so there were no slings, no slaves being fucked from both ends, and the stocks weren't visible.
    However, two Doms appeared to be having some sort of competition, their subs bent over two tables receiving a counted number of strokes from the weapon of choice. Each Dom was whipping the submissive owned by the other, the idea being to see which sub cried uncle first.
    A number of men were receiving discreet blow jobs in darkened booths and unclaimed subs were standing or kneeling against the wall, waiting to see if they would get lucky tonight.
    Nick looked very shocked and a little scared. Damian put his mouth close to the boy's ear and said, "You belong to me, pet. No one will do anything to you."
    "Thank you, sir," Nick whispered.
    "When we get to the table, stand behind my chair, unless I tell you to sit, okay?"
    Nick nodded and gave Damian a tight, uncomfortable smile. His face brightened though, when he caught sight of Ashley and Crispin sitting at a table. Crispin was most awesomely clothed all in leather, but unlike Damian, it was a tawny hue, suited to his coloring. Ashley wore dark blue leathers, tailored perfectly for him.
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    Damian almost laughed when Nick's face fell as he caught sight of Derek. The other boy was kneeling by Ashley's side, collared and leashed much like Nick, but his body was crisscrossed by leather straps. He wore leather pants, and a shirt unbuttoned like Nick's, and smiled cheerfully at Nick when he caught sight of him.
    Ashley looked down and stroked Derek's hair. "You may say hello, puppy."
    Nick was extremely grateful that Damian had chosen to call him pet, rather than puppy. He thought he might puke at that title, but Derek seemed very at ease and chatty now that he'd been given permission to greet his friend.
    "Hey, Nick, isn't this cool? I never knew this club even existed, and I must have walked by it every day on the way to work. Exciting, isn't it?"
    For all his protestations, Derek seemed to have embraced this new lifestyle with a cheerful enthusiasm that Nick